The annual budget for District 69 Recreation Grant funding will go up starting next year.
The Regional District of Nanaimo board, at its committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 28, endorsed the District 69 Recreation Commission’s recommendation to increase the funding to $75,000 per year, and that any surplus be transferred to the following year’s total.
Electoral Area F director Julian Fell, the commission chair, explained the current $62,000 funding has been at that level for a few decades or more.
“It has been been mostly oversubscribed,” said Fell. “We’re finding a lot of groups getting shorted on good applications simply for lack of funds.”
Electoral Area E director Bob Rogers And Electoral Area G director Joe Stanhope were the only directors who did not support the recommendation. Rogers said he feels there are too many similar groups are accessing different types of grants in the RDN.
Qualicum Beach Director and Mayor Teunis Westbroek said when the town evaluates grant applications, it recieves references from staff to ensure that no double-dipping is happening.
The commission’s recommendation passed and will be forwarded at the next regular board meeting for final approval.
The youth and community grants budgets for next year were also given initial approval by the committee of the whole.
The funds for the Youth Recreation Grants is $8,700. Youth groups whose grant applications were approved are Arrowsmith Community Recreation Association’s free youth sport programs, $2,500; Oceanside Track and Field Club’s storage container, $2,500; Qualicum Beach Elementary School’s bike club equipment, $2,500; and Qualicum & District Curling Club’s junior program helmets, $1,200.
The Community Recreation Grants total $12,623. The recipients are Arrowsmith Agricultural Association for its family day celebration, $437; Corcan Meadowood Residents Association’s Halloween Event 2018, $2,313; Errington War Memorial Hall Association’s concert series facility rental and printing, $1,425; Julian Packer and Players’ travelling theatre production, $2,314; Oceanside Floor Curling Club’s equipment maintenance, insurance and facility rental, $1,200; Parksville Curling Club footwear cleaners, $2,314; Qualicum Weavers and Spinners Guild’s cupboards, tables and canopy tent, $1,120; and Forward House Community Society’s recreation outings, $1,500.